Max B / Stage One Music

Born Charly Wingate (born May 21, 1978) Max B, is an American rapper and songwriter, and entertainer from Harlem, New York. Heralded for his innovative blend of catchy melodic hooks, garbled delivery and one-of-a-kind charisma, he’s revered as a pioneer among fans, journalists and fellow artists. As a member of The Diplomats and Byrd Gang collective, the Boss Don was introduced to Jim Jones after an impromptu meeting and signed a deal with the Dipset / Byrd Gang Capo and Asylum Records shortly after. From the inception turned popularization the term “Wavy,” to his immediate splash with breakout guest appearances on the hit singles “Baby Girl” and “We Fly High” and “Pin The Tail On The Donkey,”

By 2008, he stepped out on his own, working with a litany of Rap’s elite from Styles P, Tony Yayo and many more. His Million Dollar Baby and Public Domain series catapulted Max to emerge as one of the standout artists of the mid-to-late 2000′s. Affiliations with Dame Grease, DJ Lazy K, and most notably French Montana with their Coke Wave mixtape and DVD series, ushered in a new form of promotion, giving fans unprecedented, uncensored content. The duo’s savvy approach to packaging music with accompanying content, pivoted the once highly controversial street DVD market mainstream, exposing Max to an even wider fan base.

In September 2006, Max was hit bombshell, indicted on a number of charges, stemming from an incident implicating him of setting up robbery turned homicide in Fort Lee, New Jersey. The criminal case, which was mired in delays, controversy and littered with ethical red flags unfortunately led to a guilty verdict. He was indicted on twelve counts, with charges ranging from murder, kidnapping and robbery in the first-degree. In June 2009, he was sentenced to a total of 75 years in New Jersey State Prison. Max’s presence has proven resilient since his incarceration, as he’s develop a seemingly cult-like following. “Free Max B” and “Free The Wave” movements have been a mainstay, primarily over social media. He’s received public support from legions of stars from Drake and Kanye West, and artist like Wiz Khalifa who cite Max as an inspiration and influence in their music.

In September 2016, after a change in legal team and new management, The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office reached a favorable agreement, entering Max into a plea agreement for the sole charge of aggravated manslaughter, dropping all twelve counts, following a lengthy Post-Conviction Relief process. Once complete, Max is scheduled to be released sometime between 2018 and 2022